THREE LIVES LOST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 31

THREE LIVES LOST.

; - >AD DROWNING ACCIDENT. • v A BRAVE MOTHER. BLENHEIM, December <9. A triple^ bathing fatality occurred here yesterday, .afternoon. , A' party of ladies And children went- to bathe in the Opatoa River," \ outside .the * town, r Zita Shaw, aged 12 years, was carried off her feet, and Mrs Arthur Farmar (aged 37) and her daughter Rona (aged 17) went to' her/ assistance, but, .were also carried Away. ' , - ' -Zita Shaw's mother, " who is _ a eood swimmer, went to the rescue, and* almost succeeded in getting her daughter to the bank,- -but lost her. She 'then- tried to rescue Mre Farmar, who had fainted, but without success, the two Farmars and Zita Shaw being ' drowned. Mrs Shaw was diving to find the bodies when assistance arrived. The three bodies were soon recovered, and efforts at resuscitation were' continued for a considerable time" under the direction of ,Drs Adams and Walker, but unsuccessfully!. At the, inquest to-day a verdict of Accidental death by drowning" was returned. TS» jury specially commended Mrs Shaw's t>jawery and the prompt 'action ot a number dt -men and the police, who recovered the todies. Mrs Shaw, who is the wife of Mr. Frank Shaw, a chemist and prominent townsman; » prostrated- with shock; Mr Farmar was ftbsent at his farm, some miles away, when. 0s& affair happened.- - * '. " -..The funeraL of the victims took place, this afternoon.